The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26
THE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENT.

There is a conservative, secoud-thought,
element in this country, that hesitates
before departing from settled principles.
1t is that element upon which the anti
prohibition, law-observing and rights
abiding people depend, in any such
emergency as that which now confronts
the Texas voters. There is also another
large element of the country, which is
always carried away by every wind OF
doctrine that blows from whatever source.
The latter il the element upon which the
isms of the land float and receive impe-
tus. There is a constant struggle between
these two classes Of people,
! The first are contending at all times for
an observance of the old landmarks and
the plain path of the fathers. The latter
are always in foment on some new idea
which they are attempting to engraft
upon the body polite. If the latter had
their unobstructed way they would soon
involve the country in complications that
would inevitably lead to anarchy.
But this conservative element has
always proved too strong for those,
who advocate every wind
of doctrine, and, standing fore
front to every wind that blows, they have
safely steered the ship of state over all
ha &c ;rT,
cism.
There are certain cardinal principles,
that form the basis and breathe the spirit
OF all organic law under republican
form of government, that this conserva
tive element of the country have insisted
should be respected, as the inalienable
rights of man, and the force of truth
has been 80 great, that no strange innova-
ton upon the object and purposes of gov
eminent has ever succeeded in obtaining
a permanent footing in the land.
Parties have been organized, supported
by the finest talent of the country, to sus-
tain these new ideas, but all of them have
gone to pieces before the impregnable
front of that conservatism, that can always
be relied upon in this country. The fed
eral party beat itself to pieces before this
reserved rights of minorities, in spite of
all the talent Of that most accomplished
statesman, Mr.. Hamilton.
Other parties followed. One notably
sustained by the genus of Mr.. Clay. An
other had its origin in the flame easily kim
died against foreigners and the Catholic
religion, but when III it's iumphant sweep
it struck the mountains of Virginia, it re-
ceived its death blow from that conserva-
tive element trained in constitutional law.
Again, the republican party, breathing the
spirit of the New England abolitionism,
drenchcd the land with blood upon the
moral idea, that slavery was an evil and
therefore ought to be either legislated or
fought out of existence. That was ac
complished, but having no more fuel to
fire the northern heart and defeated at the
polls, another party springs into ex-
itsence, having its birth in the same local
ity, New England, and as slavery was
abolished by called law, an attempt is
made to form party of prohibit
ton upon the ruins of one of the most
promising industries of Texas, the Guilt
walton of the grape and the manu-
facture OF wine, and with the
so-called law to attempt to wipe out the
vested rights of the citizen and destroy
that industry.
The same conservative element can be
relied upon to skotch this snake in the
grass. The first impulse of a moral and
religious people is to adopt anything that
seems to promise the reformation of any
part of the people; but, after being con
WINGED that by adopting such an amend
ment no good would be accomplished and |
the fundamental principles of civil |
government violated, this conservative ele- |
ment will come to the front and crush out |
the ism of prohibition with the firm tread |
of an independent American citizen, who |
does not intend that his personal liberty |
shall be endangered by any such New |
England experiments.